Sep 2, 2007 Sep 4, 2007 Monday September 3, 2007
-
Unlocked iPhones Go On Sale Tomorrow
The first independently verified product that allows Apple (AAPL) iPhones to run on networks other than AT&T's (T) is scheduled to go on sale today -- but not to existing iPhone customers. The pricing and terms of sale were made public in an e-mail from iPhoneSimFree.com that was sent to registered bulk buyers on Sunday and published that evening by Engadget. Sales start at $1,800 for 50 licenses; 5,000 can be had for $125,000. A redacted version of the e-mail is pasted below the fold. The plan is for the software is to be distributed only by iPhone resellers -- companies that buy the cell phones from Apple, modify them before they have been activated with AT&T, and then sell them to customers who want to use the iPhone on GSM networks overseas or on another GSM network in the U.S. (e.g. T-Mobile). Prices for the modified cell phones have not been set. People who are already using iPhones on AT&T's network could, in theory, pay to have their phones unlocked, but they would still be obligated to AT&T for the rest their 2-year contract. This distribution strategy was devised with advice of lawyers and seems designed to avoid -- or at least off-load -- the legal problems associated with unlocking a cellphone for money. An exemption to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act allows individuals to unlock their own phones, but does not necessarily protect companies that sell the same service to others. iPhoneSimFree has arranged things so that it won't be unlocking any iPhones directly; that transaction is carried out by the reseller, who would presumably take on any legal risk. Resellers will also have to deal with customers should future iPhone software updates from Apple interfere with the modified phones. iPhoneSimFree.com is the registered website of a core group of six anonymous software developers who broke the codes that locked the iPhone to AT&T's network. In demonstrations to Engadget and CNN, iPhones modified with iPhoneSimFree's software seemed to have all their functions intact except for Visual Voicemail and Apple's streamlined version of YouTube. iPhoneSimFree's e-mail is pasted below, courtesy of Engadget.From: Orders iPhoneSimFree.com Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2007 8:42 PM To: [redacted] Subject: iPhone unlocking - WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING ORDERS Thank you for contacting us. We are now ready to take orders. Iphonesimfree is the only pure software solution available for iphone unlocking. Easy to market, easy to use as indicated by several respected independent reviews such as: CNN: Engadget: HOW DOES IT WORK? The reseller or his/her customer must install on the iphone our software, available by mail or through direct download from our site. This is a standard .app file and once installed on the iphone it will show up as a springboard icon on the main screen. The reseller must log into our back office and enter the required data specific to that iphone (his license credit will be substracted). Once done, the reseller or the customer must run the .app, which will communicate via the iphone wifi to our server. If the iphone has been registered, the software will proceed to unlock the iphone. It is that easy! In the unlikely case of any problem happening, we have a 24/7 hotline to assist our resellers. WHAT IS THE PRICING STRUCTURE? The minimum number of licenses you can order is 50 pieces. Minimum quantity and pricing are not negotiable. 50 licenses: $36/each 100 licenses: $34/each 250 licenses: $32/each 500 licenses: $30/each 1000 licenses: $28/each 2500 licenses: $27/each 5000 licenses: $25/each IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: WHAT GUARANTEES DO WE HAVE AGAINST FUTURE UPDATES? We CANNOT guarantee that this software will work after any future updates for the iphone. It does currently work on all firmware versions, up to and including, 1.02. We will naturally try to provide our resellers an updated version of our software for each firmware update, it is in our interest, but we do NOT guarantee that we will be able to do so. WE ARE A TEAM: Iphonesimfree.com is a wholesale only company. Although we could, we do not and will not sell directly to end users, because we want to work together with our valuable resellers as a team and not interfere in their business. HOW DO I PLACE AN ORDER: We are now taking orders. The delivery date is Tuesday, 4th of September. If you want to purchase a bulk of licenses please reply to this email with: - Number of licenses you want to purchase - Company name and address (or Name if you are not a company) - Name of the contact - Telephone number (at least one) You will shortly receive a proforma invoice with all the details on how to complete your order. Payment is by bank transfer only. THANK YOU, WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR ORDER. Best regards, Iphonesimfree.com sales team.
-
Making Beautiful Computers Is Hard for Everyone but Apple. Why?
As a programmer I find myself working on Dells everywhere I go. Every office, every complex, and every customer site is littered with Dells. In every lab and on every desk you will find servers, desktops, and especially laptops. In fact, I've probably seen the last 5 years worth of various…
-
Hints on holiday...
Today is Labor Day in the United States, so no new hints. I'd tell you I'll be off enjoying the day with friends and family, but the reality is that I'm still trying to get over a nasty little cold/flu bug that our kids seem to have brought home on Friday. :(We'll be back as usual tomorrow.-rob.
-
Nitrozac's ''Fake Steve Jobs'' portrait is too freakin' real
Nitrozac of The Joy of Tech fame, has painted and put up for auction a simply amazing 8" x 10" oil painting entitled "Fake Steve Jobs". It may be called "Fake Steve Jobs," but this thing is too... ....Read more on MacMerc.com
-
Gear Live ''Leaked iPod Nano'' pic has a weird background
While I think the style of iPod nano depicted in the image posted at Gear Live is not out of the realm of possibility, the odd shape cut into the background of the image has me curious. It's kind... ....Read more on MacMerc.com
-
Mac OS Ken: 09.03.2007
The first show of September Brings one more day of August as Mr. Trometer joins Ken to discuss what Apple may bring to the table when the beat goes on this Wednesday.